Hondo and the Apaches

John Wayne's Batjac productions decided to go into television for a change and they adapted one of the Duke's classics for television. The Hondo series ran for a year and wasn't renewed, but can still be seen on any number of cable channels who specialize in westerns.

Ralph Taeger fills the boots of John Wayne and he's certainly credible as a small screen Duke. He's also a kinder, gentler version of Wayne. But then again who wouldn't be.

This film was a compilation of two Hondo episodes, the pilot which was a remake of the original Hondo movie. albeit cut down a mite and another episode which had Robert Taylor as a guest star with Michael Rennie also.

Hondo and the Apaches is certainly acceptable Saturday afternoon entertainment for the kiddies. Michael Pate is the only one from the original Hondo movie who repeats his role from it. He's Chief Vittorio there and here. Of course he's good in both versions.

Michael Rennie's role is not clear. I get the impression that he appeared in more than one episode because his role in the film's events is left somewhat up in the air.

And since John Wayne produced this, this marked the only time he ever worked with both Rennie and Robert Taylor. Taylor plays a mine owner who's facing bankruptcy and who also is reunited with his son played by Randy Boone. Taylor did a whole lot of westerns late in his career and he should have done more. This unfortunately was his last trip to the American west.